In our afternoon reading: interviews with Jen Doll and Nicole Chung, thoughts on the new Kinski album, and more.
“Patti Smith Holding a Gun”: A Review of Jeff Jackson’s “Destroy All Monsters”
Jeff Jackson’s Destroy All Monsters is about a band struggling to stay together after their friend and former bandmate is among many musicians murdered onstage in an epidemic of mass shootings at concert venues. It’s about the ex-girlfriend of that dead musician. It’s about the city around that dead musician. It’s about the dead musician. In ways you wouldn’t expect, it’s sometimes about the shooters. It’s about you and me. It’s about the time we live in, the times our ancestors lived in. It’s about music. It’s about burning your house down. It’s about facing the gun and being behind it.
Morning Bites: Donald Quist Interviewed, Chaya Bhuvaneswar, GABI’s Latest, Jamie Iredell, and More
In our morning reading: an interview with Donald Quist, reviews of new books by Chaya Bhuvaneswar and Jamie Iredell, and more.
Afternoon Bites: Bikini Kill Revisited, Martin Riker and Jeff Jackson, DJ Haruki Murakami, Ilana Masad Interviewed, and More
In our afternoon reading: revisiting the music of Bikini Kill, Jeff Jackson and Martin Riker in conversation, and more.
Six Ridiculous Questions: Kris Saknussemm
The guiding principle of Six Ridiculous Questions is that life is filled with ridiculousness. And questions. That only by giving in to these truths may we hope to slip the surly bonds of reality and attain the higher consciousness we all crave. (Eh, not really, but it sounded good there for a minute.) It’s just. Who knows? The ridiculousness and question bits, I guess. Why six? Assonance, baby, assonance.
Morning Bites: Ling Ma, Kat Gardiner Interviewed, Revisiting Cristina Rivera Garza, Swearin’, and More
In our morning reading: thoughts on books by Ling Ma and Cristina Rivera Garza, an interview with Kat Gardiner, and more.
Sunday Stories: “Doorbell Songs”
Doorbell Songs
by TJ Fuller
One Friday I linger until I am alone and start rifling through my coworkers’ cubes. We sell security systems and we save everything: sales scripts, client binders, marketing folders. We notate lead lists and pocket bar napkins. Me too. My drawers don’t lock either. My notes expose me. I’m sure I’m not the only snooper.
Weekend Bites: Kiese Laymon, Diane Williams Interviewed, Megan Boyle, Revisiting “Orlando,” and More
In our weekend reading: thoughts on books by Kiese Laymon and Virginia Woolf, an interview with Diane Williams, and more.